ARGENTINA – After a banner year at the underground San Jose silver and gold mine in Santa Cruz state, 49% owner McEwen Mining of Toronto says that this year’s exploration budget will be double last year’s or US$14 million. The mine began production in 2008 and is 51% owned by Hochschild Mining plc.
The San Jose mine has (as of Dec. 31, 2011) measured and indicated resources of 4.67 million tonnes averaging 457 g/t Ag and 6.95 g/t Au. Total contained metal is 68.6 million oz of silver and 1.04 million oz of gold. The inferred portion is 1.81 million tonnes grading 384 g/t Ag and 5.30 g/t Au or 22.38 million oz of silver and 309,000 oz of gold.
The mine had its highest yearly output to date – 5.9 million oz of silver and 80,000 oz of gold.
More information is available at McEwenMining.com.
Comments
Henrik Thalenhorst
There is an unfortunate tendency for publications to publish mineral resources for operating mines. The above article is no exception. The public and investors would be better served if the reserves of an operating mine were to be published. In the present case, this information is readily available on the McEwen website, for which a link is provided at the end of the article.